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Wiggles came into the CHS as a transfer from a rescue in the Yukon – young, scared and pregnant. Knowing the best environment for a mama dog to give birth and raise puppies is in a home situation, our Foster Coordinator quickly began her search for the perfect temporary home for the small white dog. Long-time foster parent Susan (and occasional CHS blog contributor!) offered her home and will be caring for the pooch family for the next several weeks. She will be documenting her foster adventure in a weekly series, Wiggles & Co. Check out Wiggle’s first, second and third weeks in foster!

While the new babies continued on in their boring daily routine (eat, sleep, grow) a ‘new’ puppy was emerging: Wiggles was suddenly embracing her true puppy self. She started spending a little more time cuddling in bed with me morning and night and was always by my side if I was doing something “interesting”. She will run to her babes if they squeak but she is starting to have more “mom” time and enjoying all the toys here for her.

We are working on ignoring the ‘other’ dogs that live in my home: the one behind the glass of the fireplace, the one she sees in the oven, there are more she can see at the back of the curio cabinets, television stand and the full length mirror in my bedroom. (more…)

On Friday March 27, 2015, Nicolino Ivano CAMARDI was sentenced to 22 months with credit for 16 months time served as well as a lifetime prohibition from owning animals on charges of causing
unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal.

In January of 2014, a husky and a cat were found deceased with their muzzles bound shut in a Willow Park alley.

Both animals were taken to a local veterinarian for necropsy to determine the cause of death. It was determined the husky died from starvation and had been chronically malnourished. The veterinarian also determined the cause of death for the cat was asphyxia due to ligature strangulation following the infliction of multiple traumatic injuries to the head, tail and hind limbs.

Calgary Humane Society Peace Officers were able to piece together a case against CAMARDI, culminating in his arrest and subsequent remand and sentence. Brad Nichols, Manager, Animal Cruelty Investigations stated, “This is a horrific and violent crime that got the attention of the city (and beyond) in a way that animal cruelty has not before. This was the case that citizens put their foot down and said, we are not going to tolerate animal abuse. Today’s sentence reflects the serious nature of the offences, both by incarcerating Mr. CAMARDI for, until very recently, an unprecedented duration as well as prohibiting him from owning or caring for animals for life. This was the most complex animal cruelty case that we have ever investigated. We exhausted all available investigative strategies, including extensive DNA forensics, in putting this case together. With the closure on this case I am extremely proud of my team, the collaboration with Calgary Police Service and the response from this community.”

Also, welcome to spring!! WOOHOO! Here at the shelter our furry residents are overjoyed to hear that summer is well on the way. In fact, I saw quite a few shelter dogs carefully inspecting the grass by our fire hydrants for signs of turning green… at least that’s what they told me they were doing (I have my doubts).

Today on the blog, we’re talking about childhood entrepreneurship… the ins and outs of kids and petsitting!

If you are like many of our shelter staff, you probably remember starting some sort of a business as a child. For many of the staff at CHS (and we’re guessing our supporters too) that childhood business involved petsitting. Who doesn’t want to get paid to play with some adorable dogs and cats?! (On a related note – we are currently hiring adults who would like to get paid to care for some adorable dogs and cats, so check out our postings if you want to keep that childhood dream alive!)

While petsitting can be a great way for children to learn responsibility (and make a few extra dollars), there are definitely some considerations to make before putting up the posters…

Wiggles came into the CHS as a transfer from a rescue in the Yukon – young, scared and pregnant. Knowing the best environment for a mama dog to give birth and raise puppies is in a home situation, our Foster Coordinator quickly began her search for the perfect temporary home for the small white dog. Long-time foster parent Susan (and occasional CHS blog contributor!) offered her home and will be caring for the pooch family for the next several weeks. She will be documenting her foster adventure in a weekly series, Wiggles & Co. Check out Wiggle’s first and second weeks in foster!

My first week with this new CHS family went as I was told it would – nothing for me to do – we fell into a routine:

Wiggles came up to my bed in the morning when the alarm went off (except for 5 out of 7 mornings when she decided 4:30am was a good enough time) for a quick cuddle then outside to do her business and back in to eat breakfast. I would pick up and “cuddle” each baby up for a few moments and, before I left for work, spend some time with Wiggles in the backyard.

When I returned home from work I would let Wiggles out to relieve herself, then weighed each baby, changed their bedding (it was always clean), give Wiggles a cuddle and feed her. Later I would join the family in the whelping box to stroke each puppy – making sure I gently touched each foot and ear, their faces and tails – and rub their bellies if they rolled over (Kirsty, CHS Behaviour Counsellor, was my mentor in this). Wiggles spent most of her time with her babes but would always join me on the couch for an hour to watch TV and have a major cuddle before I headed to bed. (more…)

Hi, hi, hi! My name is Gonzo! I am a handsome Shepherd boy on the lookout for a family to join. Got room? I would like to find a family who can provide me with an active and structured lifestyle – daily walks are a must! Got small critters? I cannot resist chasing and pestering them, so I would prefer to find a home without them. This coat needs a little help to stay in tip top shape, so regular brushings and bathes will be needed. I am excited to attend “Polite Pooches” with you and to work on my manners and skills. Think a guy like me is what you’ve been searching for? Drop by for a visit today!

Today on the blog we’re bringing you something just a little different… a reading list! That’s right, we dug through our bookshelves to bring you just a few of our very favourite animal-related kids books.

The Rainbow Fish – This captivating children’s tale emphasizes the importance of sharing and kindness. This beautifully illustrated book is sure to be a hit with your little ones.

Oh the Pets You Can Get! – This fun-filled book by Dr. Seuss takes you to the wonderland land of Gerpletz where they know all about caring for pets! Learn more about how to care for companion animals with fun rhymes and illustrations. Even better? The book includes a visit to an animal shelter!

Memoirs of a Goldfish – This tell-all tale of a goldfish is sure to bring out some giggles. Goldfish gets tired of sharing his bowl with so many friends… but is the solitary life really for him? Find out!

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes – Sometimes you gotta roll with the punches. Join Pete the Cat as he encounters life’s little changes and learns to look on the bright side.

Before You Were Mine – A great story for children with adopted pets at home, this tale features the wonderings of a young child with a new pet. What happened to the pet before they joined a new family? Why did they need a new family? This book encourages great conversations around animal welfare and empathy for everyone involved.

Don’t Lick the Dog! Combining great safe animal handling advice with fun rhymes and colourful graphics, this book is a great choice for kids and adults to enjoy together.

The Lorax – Another book by Dr. Seuss makes the list! The Lorax has been made into a movie as well, and it’s message about environmental conservation is important for children of all ages to hear.

Moving Day – Join hermit crab on his search for a new home! This lighthearted book filled with funny pictures makes it both a fun and quick read. Will hermit crab find a good new home? Only time will tell!

Wiggles came into the CHS as a transfer from a rescue in the Yukon – young, scared and pregnant. Knowing the best environment for a mama dog to give birth and raise puppies is in a home situation, our Foster Coordinator quickly began her search for the perfect temporary home for the small white dog. Long-time foster parent Susan (and occasional CHS blog contributor!) offered her home and will be caring for the pooch family for the next several weeks. She will be documenting her foster adventure in a weekly series, Wiggles & Co. Check out Wiggle’s first week in foster here!

We had two weeks to bond before Wiggles was expected to give birth. She is good in the house during the day and loves her walks when I get home. We also play in the backyard – she loves any bit of snow – such a puppy still this girl is! It is so nice watching TV with a cuddle buddy and snuggling before sleeping – of course that is when she needs her belly rubs.

As I was on my way to becoming a professional canine midwife, thanks to Google, I had determined that she was going to have two puppies – the perfect amount for a small dog. Wiggles ‘helped’ put the whelping box together – Kirsty (CHS Behaviour Counsellor) had explained the assembly procedure twice but apparently that was not enough for me so it was a struggle. I did prevail – even when Wiggles moved some parts to other areas of the house. I had the sterile gloves, baby aspirator, weigh scale, lots of towels and sheets and blankets, camera, cell phone programmed with Jenn (CHS Foster Coordinator) and Kirsty’s numbers, and had memorized the location of the 24 hour vet hospital. I WAS READY.

Involving young children in the care of a pet can sometimes be a challenge, yet finding a way for small children to care for animals also provides tremendous benefits in terms of the development of empathy, compassion and respect for all living things.

For older kids, taking part in the daily care of a pet can be very rewarding, but sometimes it’s fun to take a break from scooping all that poop to create a fun project that your pet friend will love.

Today on the blog, we’re bringing you a fun project for kids (and adults!) of all ages… the kitty salad bar! (We also have some cool facts about why cats have to eat meat).

Expert hint: We are talking about cats today, but you can replace the plants with species-appropriate options to create an indoor salad bar for just about any type of pet.

Wiggles came into the CHS as a transfer from a rescue in the Yukon – young, scared and pregnant. Knowing the best environment for a mama dog to give birth and raise puppies is in a home situation, our Foster Coordinator quickly began her search for the perfect temporary home for the small white dog. Long-time foster parent Susan (and occasional CHS blog contributor!) offered her home and will be caring for the pooch family for the next several weeks. She will be documenting her foster adventure in a weekly series, Wiggles & Co.

I returned my foster kid (Simon the cat) to CHS so he would now be able to move forward in Adoptions . Hang in there Simon, your forever family is coming – you are a pretty cool feline even if you are the poster boy for the term “Cattitude”.

When the next foster list was sent out I joked with Jenn (Jennifer Finnegan, CHS Foster Coordinator) that I wanted the pregnant mom on the list. I was only kidding. “I will take whatever cat you decide to give me me now,” I said. Jenn has the habit of sending me the nicest cats that turn out to be Divas or Divos. Maybe they just sense that I am a dog person.

Jenn did not take my request as the joke it was intended to be. (more…)

Peanut had been by his owner’s side from the very beginning, allowing her to do things she had never dreamed of doing before the Golden Retriever came into her life.

However that all changed the day Peanut was stolen. Peanut’s owner never thought she would see her best friend again, but thanks to the kindness of strangers and fellow animal lovers, Peanut’s story doesn’t end there.

Peanut the Golden Retriever came to Calgary Humane in mid-February as an owner surrender. Standard procedure at CHS, no matter how the animal comes to us, is to check for identification in the form of a tattoo or microchip. On intake, it was noted she had a tattoo and right away, our Animal Admissions staff traced the tattoo. It led them to a clinic in Vancouver and after a quick call, our staff were told it traced to a person and were given several numbers. (more…)